Rapid.Space and Amarisoft technologies are already successfully deployed by public 4G/5G operators on their infrastructure.
The main two use cases are:
- macro-cells with multi-vendor radio units, three sectors, three carriers and 4 layers per carrier (2,000+ active UEs on the field, no limit on connected UEs);
- all-in-one small cells for rural areas or coverage extension with one sector, one carrier, two layers (100+ active UEs on the filed, lab tested up to 1,000 active UEs, no limit on connected UEs).
We describe bellow the steps that should be followed to replicate this success. Those steps are intended either for the technical team in charge of system integration on the operator side (operator, group company of the operator, trusted system integrator, etc.).
Note: Amarisoft can support 8 layers radio units (RU) and 72 layers active antenna units (AAU) but few mobile network operators rely on this configuration. Multi-band radio units are drawing more interest although the majority of deployments still uses single band.
Step 1: learn Amarisoft technology
If you already know Amarisoft, you can skip this step.
Whenever we explain that it is possible to implement a complete eNodeB/gNodeB including the PHY layer with a basic CPU (Intel i5, AMD Ryzen, Rockchip, Raspberry Pi) and achieve excellent performance without hardware acceleration including for LDPC or Turbocode, some engineers don't believe it. Modern CPUs actually include vector instructions (AVX2, NEON, etc.) which, if properly used, provide more performance than an external accelerator thanks to lower latency of the internal cache memory of the CPU.
Amarisoft can thus achieve 4T4R 100 MHz NR with about 3 cores of an AMD Epyc CPU and 42 cells per BBU (DU/CU). With Amarisoft, Vodafone could create a 5G base station with a Raspberry Pi. And Amarisoft was used at Paris Olympics to capture video streams with excellent result.
However, nothing is better to understanding Amarisoft technology than using it.
We thus recommend to:
- Buy an Amarisoft Callbox (classic or advanced is enough to start)
- Try multiple configurations of Amarisoft eNodeB/gNodeB based on suggestions of Amarisoft Tech Academy
This setup can later be used for further lab tests.
Step 2: small-cell pilot
Purchase an Open Radio Station from Rapid.Space and deploy it in an area with no existing coverage (rural, factory, parking, etc.).
With this step, you can progress on:
- interoperability with your existing infrastructure (ex. central core network, HSS, etc.);
- use of the NMS/OSS/BSS hosted by Rapid.Space;
- use of edge services running with local core network.
By doing this step, interoperability can be validated quickly on the field.
We recommend at this step to use Rapid.Space OSS/BSS/NMS on the cloud to save costs and time.
Step 3: macro-cell pilot
Purchase a Rapid.Space EdgePOD or EdgePacer BBU (DU/CU) and at least 3 radio units from partner vendors of Rapid.Space (Prose, NTS, Comba, Comleap), together with a support contract from Rapid.Space so that we can help you to ensure all components are perfectly integrated, tested and configured.
You can then select an existing tower in your infrastructure and replace existing radio units and BBU with the ones purchased through Rapid.Space, then conduct drive tests.
We recommend at this stage to deploy Rapid.Space open source OSS/BSS/NMS on premise and prepare future deployment. It is a good time to train operation staff to Rapid.Space NMS.
References
Further information can be found about Rapid.Space vRAN technologies for operators in the link below.
MWC 2025
This page provides access to our latest technologies as they were demonstrated at MWC 2025 and 2024.
https://blog.rapid.space/rapidspace-Blog/rapidspace-MWC2025
https://blog.rapid.space/rapidspace-Blog/rapidspace-MWC2024
Amarisoft vRAN technology
Amarisoft is a leading vendor of vRAN for public or private networks. It is also a competitor of Viavi, Rohde & Schwarz, etc. for test and measurement.
https://tech-academy.amarisoft.com (contains detailed description of Amarisoft RAN technology)
https://www.amarisoft.com/test-and-measurement/network-testing/network-products (test and measurement products to test a network)
https://www.amarisoft.com/test-and-measurement/device-testing/device-products (test and measurement products to simulate a network)
https://www.lightreading.com/open-ran/amarisoft-powered-orange-5g-at-olympics-in-best-open-ran-example-yet (success case at Paris Olympics)
Rapid.Space ORS open source "all-in-one" (RAN, core, edge) radio unit hardware
The Open Radio Station (ORS) is an all-in-one, very small base station (2.4 kg). It could be very useful combined with Starlink to provide 4G/5G everywhere, especially when going to countryside, mining areas, etc.. It can be used autonomously or connected to remote core network, which is great for safety.
https://handbook.rapid.space/evangelist/RS-Leaflet.Rapid.Space.Open.Radio.Pdf/Base_download (data sheet)
https://lab.nexedi.com/nexedi/ors-hardware/ (open source CAD files)
https://shop.rapid.space/product_module/523/Resource_viewAsShop?variation=product_module/523/2
https://handbook.rapid.space/ors (complete manual)
https://handbook.rapid.space/ors/rapidspace-Ors.Howtos/faq (FAQ)
https://handbook.rapid.space/rapidspace-Use.Case.Village?portal_skin=Slide (deployment in Philippines villages)
https://handbook.rapid.space/rapidspace-Use.Case.Village (deployment in Philippines - explanation)
https://blog.rapid.space/rapidspace-Blog/rapidspace-Use.Case.ORS.Deployment.Rural.Environment
Videos:
https://video.app.nexedi.net/w/kTcNW85qHSabq2SKB4UYDJ (shows how easy it is in a hotel room in Nicaragua)
https://video.app.nexedi.net/w/7jPQ9yZQPWEs1uif8Miehy
https://video.app.nexedi.net/w/bnCJFNKWjnKDvxRtowPNdf
https://video.app.nexedi.net/w/h5YepfKNw3Q5mBRcTMmLVZ
Rapid.Space SimpleRAN product line
The idea of SimpleRAN is to create vRAN focusing on cost reduction rather that on "complicated architecture". We thus follow 3GPP standards, use O-RAN whenever it is cost efficient (ex.O-RAN m-plane is great) and use other technologies (ex. CPRI, iCPRI/RoCEv2, PCIe front-haul, SlapOS, fluentd) whenever it brings more cost savings or simplicity than technologies promoted by O-RAN, ETSI or CNF.
https://shop.rapid.space/simpleran
https://www.simpleran.org/
https://lab.nexedi.com/nexedi/slapos/-/tree/master/software/simpleran
https://blog.rapid.space/rapidspace-Blog/rapidspace-Blog.Interchange.RU
Rapid.Space open source NMS/OSS/BSS
One of the unique features of Rapid.Space is its open source NMS/OSS/BSS. This is how Rapid.Space can achieve full plug-end-play operation and automated integration testing. It also unifies edge, cloud, big data and vRAN within a single system.
https://handbook.rapid.space/rapidspace-Managing.BBU.and.RU.with.SlapOS.Master.and.NMS.Learning.Track (training materials for operators)
https://blog.rapid.space/rapidspace-Blog/rapidspace-Blog.How.To.Build.A.Distributed.5G.Edge.Cloud.Small.Team
https://blog.rapid.space/rapidspace-Blog/rapidspace-SlapOS.Introduction.vRAN.Edge.Cloud
https://handbook.rapid.space/telecom-Matomo.SlapOS.Tutorial (explains our edge cloud technology and PaaS)
http://slapos.nexedi.com (main page)
Videos:
https://video.app.nexedi.net/w/tkgrJ583ezzraJBKKnBieQ
FAQ
Here are some answers to common questions from operators which are considering Rapid.Space for pilot or deployment.
Is band X available?
Usually, all bands are available. Some bands are in stock (ex. N40, N78) whereas other bands require to customise our products. For bands that are not in stock, we may require NRE or MOQ of 10 units, depending on the case. Feel free to ask by email to sales (a) rapid (dot) space.
Are there volume discounts for mass deployment ?
For mass deployment over 10,000 units, the price of products on https://shop.rapid.space/simpleran could be reduced by 50% to 75%. This is a common ratio in telecom industry.
Is Rapid.Space cheaper than X?
Rapid.Space hardware uses the same basic components as traditional vendors and thus costs about the same to produce. Rapid.Space software provides "permanent" license that does not depend on the features, on the number of UEs, etc. Rapid.Space software is 99% open source and supports multi-vendor hardware; this helps lowering costs. However, Rapid.Space can not subsidize hardware and is not allowed to sell hardware at a price which is lower than its production cost, something that other vendors sometimes. Overall, Rapid.Space cost is equivalent or cheaper than traditional solutions, especially in the long term thanks to its "permanent, no limit" and "open source" licensing models.
Can you provide us a sample of your product ?
You can purchase samples online or by send an email to sales (a) rapid (dot) space. We will support you to deploy the product in your lab and connect it to your network.
Can you provide us a sample of your product for free ?
Sadly no. Our "fully open" business model (open source, open hardware, open process) means that we can not "pay back" our initial efforts for lab or pilot through deployment phase. However, you can purchase samples online or by sending an email to sales (a) rapid (dot) space. We will support you to deploy the product in your lab and connect it to your network.
Can you support us to deploy a pilot ?
We can provide support services for lab or pilot deployment at competitive price. Please send an email to sales (a) rapid (dot) space.
Can you support us to deploy a pilot for free ?
Sadly no. Our "fully open" business model (open source, open hardware, open process) means that we can not "pay back" our initial efforts for lab or pilot through deployment phase. However, we can provide support services for lab or pilot deployment at competitive price. Please send an email to sales (a) rapid (dot) space.
Can you support us for commercial deployment ?
Yes. This is the core of our business model.